Can we talk about that which cannot be named? On June 12 forty-nine people were massacred at a nightclub in Orlando. Alberta’s political leaders expressed their horror at the senseless slaughter. All but one of the politicians recognized that the … Continue reading → . . . → Read More: Susan on the Soapbox: Responding to Orlando

One of the common criticisms of advocacy films like Bully that I’ve heard and share is that the filmmakers narrowly focus on victims without ever exploring those who perpetrate. These films help along the equivocal knee-jerk reaction to oppression when we have a two-dimensional villain to point to: kids today! But why do kids bully and what are their lives like? Answering, or at least interrogating, these questions would move us in a direction to better understand the complexities of bullying and would likely elicit a more nuanced, thoughtful reaction…read more . . . → Read More: ezra winton: Fighting Fascism by way of Understanding the Fascists

This much is clear: with the NDP’s federal collapse last night, the neoliberal Third Way experiment can clearly be declared a failure. But now what? Now, to build ─ not rebuild on a broken foundation. But also this: pillory me as a post-structuralist if you must, but I’m not here for the construction of any . . . → Read More: Joe Fantauzzi: A Brief Note On #Elxn42 And Moving Toward A New Left

TweetIt is sometimes amazing how quickly one political issue can transform and dominate the debate. This week’s raging debate about allowing Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) in Alberta schools has twisted and turned so many times, it has become difficult to figure out who is in and out of the closet on this issue. Wikipedia defines a . . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics: A timeline of Alberta’s Gay-Straight Alliance debate

With these ominous words, spoken over a crackling telephone connection, Children 404 draws to a close; its unsettling conclusion signaled by an image of the Russian landscape fading into obscurity, scrubbed out by a layer of broken cloud seen from above, through an airplane window.

If a government wants to trample the rights of its citizens it can do so in two ways.

It can violate our fundamental rights by passing legislation that invokes the “notwithstanding clause”—this allows the government to pass laws that expressly violate the fundamental rights guaranteed to us under the Charter and human rights legislation.

In the same week that the Alberta government debated and rejected Motion 503, Rob Anderson, Wildrose House Leader, made an emotional plea to put an end to name-calling—specifically “Lake of Fire Party” and “homophobe”.

Ryan Conrad recently pulled his film from the Frameline San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival because the festival, despite a robust budget and years of protest from filmmakers, audiences and activists, continues to accept money from the Israeli consulate. Conrad joins a growing list of artists who are taking a stand in the cultural commons, . . . → Read More: Art Threat: Friday Film Pick: Things are Different Now

Openly gay South Korean film director Kim Jho Gwang-soo announced he will symbolically marry his partner in a ceremony designed to both celebrate their love and make a statement on LGBTQ rights in the conservative country.

By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: The House of Commons has passed Bill C-279, the NDP’s transgendered rights bill, by a 149-137 vote. The bill, sponsored by New Democrat Randall Garrison (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca), now proceeds to the Senate. This is a great victory for human rights in Canada. The bill prohibits discrimination against . . . → Read More: The Canadian Progressive: House of Commons Approves NDP’s Transgendered Rights Bill C-279

When Tillett Wright began her photographic project, Self Evident Truths, back in 2010 she didn’t expect the groundswell of requests for photographs that she ended up receiving. She originally wanted to shoot 4-5,000 people, but the response has led her to increase her goal to 10,000 people.

by Ontario Federation of Labour: This year, as the global community recognizes December 10 as International Human Rights Day, many Canadians struggle with a vanishing sense of pride in Canada’s once renowned reputation as a leader in human rights. While that reputation has always been contradicted by the lived experiences of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and . . . → Read More: The Canadian Progressive: Canada’s Human Rights Reputation is Fast Becoming a Myth

“There is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.” – Pierre Trudeau

While at university I made appoint of watching the Toronto Pride Parade a a member of the crowd. This year, thanks to my friends in the Queer Liberals, I was able to participate in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo Pride Festival, . . . → Read More: The Equivocator: Toronto Pride with the Queer Liberals

Mitt Romney reacts–if you wonder why he doesn’t try and slam President Obama for changing his position, it’s probably because he doesn’t believe in evolution and he would lose any “flip flopping” debate.

On Sunday, January 29th a group of 45+ Queer Liberals, Liberally Curious Canadians and allies of the LGBTQ community (myself included) met at the Church Street Community Centre to talk, drink coffee and build on the momentum of the biennial convention. I was really impressed with the turn out for the event which included Toronto-Centre . . . → Read More: The Equivocator: Queer Liberal Caucus Coffee House A Huge Success

The Liberal Party has a lot of work to do this weekend as Liberals from across the country schlep to Ottawa for our biennial convention. This morning we are all reminded of what exactly is at stake as it appears that Stephen Harper is engaging dog-whistle politics over marriage-equality.